Emergency shut-off for sprinkler-heads.



PATENTED MAR. 5, [1907,

ABBOTT. EMERGENCY SHUT-OFF FOR SPRINKLER HEADS. n

APPLICATION FILED 0011.2, 1905.

rus NORRIS PETERS co., wnsnmoron, n. c.

EMERGENCY SHUT-OFF FOR SPRINKLER-HEADS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 5, 1907.

Application filed October 2,1905. Serial No. 280,917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR ABBOTT, of Boston, in the county of Suffolkand State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful EmergencyShut Off for Sprinkler- Heads, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to that class of sprinkler-heads in which thesprinkling is normally prevented by a thermostat supported by the headand the thermostat is removed by the action of undue heat which meltsthe solder, whereupon ti e sprinkling is done automatically. After thefire which caused the heat has been extinguished it is desirable to stopthe sprinkling without waiting to shut off the valve which controls thesprinkler-system, as such shutting off will often require a considerabletime and consequent damage by unnecessary sprinkling.

The object of my invention is to provide a shut-off for thesprinkler-head to be used at such times and which can be readilyinserted in the sprinkler-head and locked against movement tending toopen the sprinkler and yet easily unlocked and removed, and which isadjustable for various sizes and styles of sprinkler-heads, and whichwill be simple in construction and practical in operation both as to itsshutting-oil function and as to its locking and unlocking.

My invention consists in such a shut-off comprising two members whichare connected but movable relatively one member to close thesprinkler-aperture and the other to bear against an abutment of thesprinklerhead and means to lock the two members against such relativemovement as would tend to open the sprinkler.

A feature of my invention consists in means for locking the two membersin the desired position for different sizes of sprinklerhead- A thirdfeature consists in means for locking and unlocking the members withoutrelative movement of them.

Other features of my invention are hereinafter described. v

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my shut-off in place in thesprinkler-head. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, showing thehandle. Fig. 3 is a section of the shut-off itself with the handlepartly in elevation. below.

The sprinkler-head A has water-aperture a and arch a, in which at itslower portion is mounted adjustable abutment a Pivoted to handle memberA is shank member B, which is threaded at both ends I), but which has acentral portion 1), which is not threaded. The cap or stopper B isinternally threaded to engage the threaded portions of the shank memberB. The screw b passes through the cap B and lies between the threadedportions of the shank B, limiting the motion of the cap B in bothdirections. The portion of the cap B which closes the aperture of thesprinklerhead is preferably spherical, as shown at 6 and the cap ispreferably roughened to permit of its being turned by a wrench. LocknutD is internally threaded for engagement with the lower thread of shankmember B and is roughened at its outer surface to permit of its beingturned by a Wrench or the like. Handle member A is pivoted at a to shankmember B and has recess a at the front portion of its lower face forengagement with the abutment a of the sprinkler-head, and I have shownit also grooved at a in Figs. 4 and 5, and the object of this is that Imay use my device with different forms of sprinklerheads, thelongitudinal abutment a being shown in Fig. 5. The front portion of thehandle is U-shaped to receive the lower end of shank member B and formsa support for the lower part of the shank. The upper front portion a ofthe handle is of any suitable shape to form a bearing for the lock-nutwhen the device is locked.

In using my shut-off it is inserted in the sprinkler-head, the caphaving been adjusted appropriately for the particular sprinklerhead, andthe lower groove or recess in the handle engages the abutment at thebottom of the sprinkler-head. By swinging the handle A the two membersare moved relatively, one to close the water-aperture and the other toengage the abutment. The lock-nut is then rotated until it bears againstthe upper surface of the handle, and the shutoff is securely locked inposition, stopping the sprinkling and preventing the flow of water untilit is shut ofi at the source of supply, when my shut-off can be readilyre- 1 moved by turning the lock-nut in the re- Figs. 4 and 5 are detailsdescribed verse direction, permitting the ready removal of the shut-oii.It will now be clear that when the two members, which I have called theshank member and the handle member, have been moved relatively to bearupon the abutment and to effectually shut oil the Water they are lockedpositively against relative movement tending to open the sprinkler,because the lock-nut prevents swinging of the handle, and this lockingis accomplished without any relative move ment of the two members, andthe consequence is that no leakage can occur, because the shuto1f is notmoved after it is in the proper position to stop the flow of Water. Itwill also be clear that the two members of my shut-off may by suitablerelative movement be adjusted for the desired size of sprinkler-head andeiiectually locked in such adjustment.

What I claim is 1. An emergency shut-ofi' for sprinkler heads of thecharacter described comprising a handle member to engage the abutment; avalve member directly connected to the handle member but movablerelatively to it and means mounted on one of said members and movableinto engagement with the other of said members for locking them when inposition against relative movement.

2. An emergency shut-off for sprinklerheads comprising a handle member,a valve member comprising a rod pivoted to said handle member, and avalve adjustable on said rod, and a device carried by said pivoted rodand movable into engagement with said handle member to lock the said rodfrom turning on its pivot, substantially as described.

3. An emergency shut-off i for sprinklerheads comprising a handle memberadapted to engage the abutment of the sprinklerhead, a valve membercomprising a threaded rod pivoted to the handle member, and a valvehaving screw-threads to engage said thread-rod, and a nut in threadedengagement with said rod between said valve and said handle, said nutengaging said handle when the said rod is to be locked against turningon its pivot, substantially as de scribed.

4. An emergency shut-off for sprinklerheads of the character describedcomprising a handle member to engage the abutment, a valve memberpivoted to said handle member, and means mounted on the valve member andmovable into engagement with the handle member for locking the valvemember from turning on its pivot.

5. An emergency shut-off for sprinklerheads comprising a handle member,a valve member comprising a rod pivoted to said handle member, and adevice carried by said pivoted rod and movable into engagement with saidhandle member to lock the said rod from turning on its pivot,substantially as described.

EDGAR ABBOTT.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL ABBOTT, J r., (3020. H. BOWEN.

